Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-11
Daily Hsunshef goarnal.
augpsts. Thursday Morning, Aug. IL.
The Meaning of the Kentucky
Election.

The Meaning of the Kentucky
Election.
The result of the Kentucky election is
most gratifying to the republican party.
1t is one more step in the onward march
of political revolution in that State,
which began way back at the Tilden cleo
ton. The majority at that time was o.,
500 which gave the democrats undisputed
control of the State. From that figure it
has steadily decreased, Hancock having
1900 majority, Cleveland. $4,000 and
Buckner in this last election. having less
than 10 900. This steady gain by the re-
pubicans is very significant when carefully
anal, zed for then it shows that the maj )r-
ity Of the acquired votes comes from the
white population and That the only loss
sustained is by slight falling off in the
colored vote.
There are certainly very good reasons
for this change of the vote else it would
rot have occurred, and they are very we'll
Get forth by an independent correspondent
of the New York Evening Post. He says:
1.-THE more we recede from the days of
slavery. the more the issues growing out
Of it have been settled. the weaker also
becomes the prejudice among the citizens
of an old slave State against the old black
republican party. People begin to interest
..,t no a fhpy arise
TIE old whiggery OF the State crops out on
the side OF the protective tariff. the Blair
Education bill, and of every scheme for the
disbursement or distribution of the sur
plus. In the mountain counties, which
were almost unanimously uniOnist during
the war ,Cleveland's veto of the dependent
pension bill, and the very odlous war
record OF Gen. Buckner, also played
great part. At the Congressional cleo
ton in 1896, three out of the eleven dis
tricts chose republican congressman at
the election last Monday al least four, il
not five, districts gave majorities for
Bradley, the republican nominee for
Governor"
1t is very apparent from this statement
that Kentucky is recognizing the benefits
derived from protective tariff. Her in
terests are most safely guarded by it and
there is disposition to continue it for
this nurposc. The stand taken by the
dominant wing of the democratic party is
not very assuring to the welfare of the
Stale and her emphatic disapproval, ex-
hbited in this last election, cannot be mis-
understood It is very apparent also
that the blunders of President Cleveland
have had disastrous effect in places
where least expected. This State has al
ways been counted democratic strong
hold but its notifications have not been
impregnable to the treacherous
assaults from within the party; the
patriotism of the sturdy sons OF Kentucky
has prompted them to give over the strong
hold when administration blows are aimed
at the ex Union soldier. The State has
also shown disposition to avail itself OF
any measure that will assist in the educa-
ton of Its illiterate citizens. The con-
dition of the State n this respect is well
described by the Louisville Commercial.
In which il is stated that there are 250,-
600 inhabitants who can neither read or
write; that the school teachers are kept
on starvation wages and that the school
privileges are very limited in some parts of
the State. This condition of things may in
part. if not wholly. account for the favor
which is expressed for the Blair Educa-
ton Bill. Upon the whole the political
revolution indicates determined revolt
from bourbonsm, declaration in favor
of protection, and an effort at social i'm
provement. Repubicanism is slowly but
surely invading the South and each cleo
ton shows evidences of success in the
coming contest.